Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuhe Gao, Jacek M. Mazurek, Yaming Li, David Blackley, David N. Weissman, Shirley V. Burton, Waqas Amin, Douglas Landsittel, Michael J. Becich, Ye Ye
Summary: This study examines the work histories and survival time of patients with suspected exposure to asbestos. The most frequent cases of mesothelioma occurred in patients working in manufacturing, construction, and education services. Males or individuals over 40 tended to work in traditionally asbestos-associated industries, while females or individuals aged 20-40 tended to work in non-traditionally associated industries. The results highlight the importance of considering all potential sources of asbestos exposure when evaluating mesothelioma patients.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Beow Y. Yeap, Assunta De Rienzo, Ritu R. Gill, Michela E. Oster, Mary N. Dao, Nhien T. Dao, Rachel D. Levy, Kimberly Vermilya, Corinne E. Gustafson, Gavin Ovsak, William G. Richards, Raphael Bueno
Summary: Novel prognostic models using tumor volume and molecular factors as predictors show improved accuracy in predicting outcomes for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients, compared to traditional clinical staging.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kian C. Banks, Mihir J. Chaudhary, Diana S. Hsu, Colin M. Mooney, Jeffrey B. Velotta
Summary: This report demonstrates the feasibility of salvage resection for progression of MPM after immunotherapy.
ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shu Pan, Na Yan, Yuanyuan Zhao, Zhiwen Li
Summary: This study found that marital status has a significant impact on the prognosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Married patients have higher cancer-specific survival and overall survival rates compared to unmarried patients. The poor prognosis in unmarried patients may be attributed to inadequate treatment and socioeconomic and psychosocial factors.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Awen Yang, Bin Tang, Xuan Liu, Jingxuan He, Qun Yan, Xianghui Liang, Wenen Liu
Summary: A nomogram was established to predict the prognosis of bone metastasis in patients with malignant mesothelioma. Age, sex, histological type, and chemotherapy were identified as independent risk factors for overall survival. Different metastatic sites have significantly different effects on prognosis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Rachelle Asciak, Nikolaos I. Kanellakis, Anna Bibby, Andrew Kidd, Stephen Gerry, Rachel Mercer, Nick Maskell, Kevin G. Blyth, Peter Fsadni, Stephen Montefort, Ioannis Psallidas, Najib M. Rahman
Summary: This study investigated the association between pleural fluid exposure and survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The findings suggest that successful pleurodesis may be associated with improved survival, but the relationship between MPM exposure duration to pleural fluid and survival remains unclear within the limitations of this retrospective study. Future prospective studies are needed to further evaluate this potentially important mechanism.
Article
Oncology
Thinh T. Nguyen, Hyun-Sung Lee, Bryan M. Burt, Christopher Amos, Chao Cheng
Summary: This study found that gene signature scores were more prognostic than genomic mutations, mRNA, and protein expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). High immune infiltration levels were associated with prolonged survival. The integrated model combining intrinsic and extrinsic features provided independent prognostic values in MPM.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tomer Meirson, Francesca Pentimalli, Francesco Cerza, Giovanni Baglio, Steven G. Gray, Pierpaolo Correale, Marija Krstic-Demonacos, Gal Markel, Antonio Giordano, David Bomze, Luciano Mutti
Summary: This comparative effectiveness study aims to evaluate the clinical benefit of frontline therapies for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The study found that the statistical conclusions of the examined trials were fragile, and there was no survival benefit in the CM743 trial compared to MAPS. Differential censoring patterns were also observed.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Vanessa M. Welten, Adam C. Fields, Robert A. Malizia, James Yoo, Jennifer L. Irani, Joel E. Goldberg, Ronald Bleday, Nelya Melnitchouk
Summary: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients treated at academic hospitals had better survival outcomes compared to those treated at community hospitals, potentially due to more frequent surgeries and same-day chemotherapy administration in academic settings.
JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Emanuela Taioli, Andrea Wolf, Naomi Alpert, Daniel Rosenthal, Raja Flores
Summary: This study examines sex differences in the occurrence, treatment, and survival of pleural mesothelioma using the SEER-Medicare database. It found that female individuals had better overall survival, providing directions for future research into potential therapeutic targets.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Assunta De Rienzo, Melissa H. Coleman, Beow Y. Yeap, David T. Severson, Benjamin Wadowski, Corinne E. Gustafson, Roderick Jensen, Lucian R. Chirieac, William G. Richards, Raphael Bueno
Summary: Sex differences in tumor incidence and prognosis have been documented for many types of cancer, including malignant pleural mesothelioma, where women have lower incidence but longer survival after surgery. High expression of the RAS like estrogen regulated growth inhibitor gene (RERG) is correlated with longer survival in women, but not in men. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential role of RERG in mesothelioma and the involvement of estrogen.
Article
Oncology
Arnulf Holzknecht, Oliver Illini, Maximilian J. Hochmair, Dagmar Krenbek, Ulrike Setinek, Florian Huemer, Erwin Bitterlich, Christoph Kaindl, Vladyslav Getman, Ahmet Akan, Michael Weber, Gunther Leobacher, Arschang Valipour, Michael R. Mueller, Stefan B. Watzka
Summary: An analysis of 112 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma found that combined chemotherapy and surgery, epithelioid tumor subtype, early tumor stage, and the absence of relevant comorbidities were favorable factors for survival. The best treatment approach for this cancer should involve multiple therapeutic approaches.
Article
Oncology
Carolina Mensi, Simona Stella, Barbara Dallari, Sabrina Rugarli, Angela Cecilia Pesatori, Giovanni Luca Ceresoli, Dario Consonni
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence of second primary cancers (SPCs) in pleural mesothelioma (PM) patients and assessed its prognostic implications. The presence of an SPC did not significantly impact survival in the overall PM population, but patients with non-epithelioid PM had a worse prognosis when an SPC was diagnosed. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of SPCs as markers of genetic susceptibility in mesothelioma.
Article
Oncology
Roger Y. Kim, Yimei Li, Melina E. Marmarelis, Anil Vachani
Summary: This study examined the impact of second-line immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) versus chemotherapy on overall survival in advanced MPM patients, with results showing that ICI treatment was associated with longer survival. Patients in the ICI treatment group had a significantly higher 12-month survival probability compared to those in the chemotherapy group.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wanyuan Cui, Sanjay Popat
Summary: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown important but variable efficacy in mesothelioma treatment, with combination ICI therapy appearing more promising. A randomized Phase 3 trial has established ipilimumab-nivolumab as a new standard of care, but there are still unresolved issues such as predictive biomarkers and patient selection.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patricia Cain, Alison Daly, Alison Reid
Summary: Research shows that compared to other migrant groups and Caucasian Australians, refugees are more likely to experience racial discrimination and exposure to over three workplace hazards. Refugees often work in low status, insecure jobs, but they receive adequate health and safety training and take pride in their work.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kate M. Miller, Nick H. de Klerk, Elizabeth A. Davis, Robyn M. Lucas, Prue H. Hart, Aveni Haynes
Summary: In addition to known risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, maternal age (under 25 years) was identified as an independent predictor of deficiency. Only 20% of pregnant women were screened for deficiency within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Tina Carter, Maxine Crook, Ashleigh Murch, Alex H. Beesley, Nick de Klerk, Adrian Charles, Ursula R. Kees
Summary: NUT carcinoma is a rare and aggressive cancer with low overall survival. A retrospective study in a specific geographical area determined the incidence of NC, emphasizing the importance of improved diagnostic detection for better management and patient counseling.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gizachew A. Tessema, M. Luke Marinovich, Siri E. Haberg, Mika Gissler, Jonathan A. Mayo, Natasha Nassar, Stephen Ball, Ana Pilar Betran, Amanuel T. Gebremedhin, Nick de Klerk, Maria C. Magnus, Cicely Marston, Annette K. Regan, Gary M. Shaw, Amy M. Padula, Gavin Pereira
Summary: The study found a consistent increase in the risk of adverse birth outcomes with long interpregnancy intervals, and a possible increase in the risk of spontaneous preterm birth with short intervals. However, there is insufficient evidence for the increased risk of other adverse birth outcomes. Waiting at least 24 months before conceiving again may be unnecessarily long in high-income countries.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kate M. Miller, Prue H. Hart, Robyn M. Lucas, Elizabeth A. Davis, Nicholas H. de Klerk
Summary: Population-level ecological studies have shown an inverse correlation between type 1 diabetes incidence and ambient ultraviolet radiation levels. A nested case-control study in Western Australia found that higher UV radiation exposure in late pregnancy and early life may lower the risk of type 1 diabetes in boys, but not in girls.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Daan Caudri, Lidija Turkovic, Nicholas H. de Klerk, Tim Rosenow, Conor P. Murray, Ewout W. Steyerberg, Sarath C. Ranganathan, Peter Sly, Stephen M. Stick, Oded Breuer
Summary: This study aimed to predict the progression of bronchiectasis in preschool children with CF and identified several important predictors, including pancreatic insufficiency, repeated intravenous treatment courses, recurrent lower respiratory infections, and lower airway inflammation. Early assessment of bronchiectasis risk in children with CF is feasible at a group level, but there remains high variability in disease progression at individual patient levels.
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sarah Sheridan, Peter McIntyre, Bette Liu, Parveen Fathima, Thomas Snelling, Christopher Blyth, Nicholas de Klerk, Hannah Moore, Heather Gidding
Summary: The study found that improving the timeliness of current infant doses and increasing antenatal coverage can enhance protection against pertussis for most Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. Children at highest risk of severe pertussis may benefit from additional measures such as extra doses of pertussis-containing vaccines or vaccines with improved immunogenicity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patricia Cain, Alison Reid
Summary: Despite high levels of education and long-term residency in Australia, many humanitarian migrants struggle to find stable employment. Some may speak positively about their work, but this doesn't necessarily indicate a positive work environment. Ultimately, humanitarian migrants face challenges of oppressive working conditions and underemployment in the workforce.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Respiratory System
Fraser Brims, Edward J. A. Harris, Chellan Kumarasamy, Amie Ringuet, Brendan Adler, Peter Franklin, Nick de Klerk, Bill Musk, Conor Murray
Summary: Ultra-low-dose CT-detected parenchymal lung abnormalities strongly correlate with significant changes on lung function testing, suggesting that the observed CT abnormalities have physiological and clinical significance.
BMJ OPEN RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Fraser J. H. Brims, Edward J. A. Harris, Conor Murray, Chellan Kumarasamy, Alice Ho, Brendan Adler, Peter Franklin, Nick H. de Klerk
Summary: This study analyzed the effectiveness of LDCT screening for early lung cancer in an asbestos exposed population and compared different screening program eligibility criteria. The results showed that LDCT screening was effective at identifying early-stage lung cancer in this population, and the existing lung cancer risk criteria did not adequately capture this population.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexander N. Larcombe, Emily K. Chivers, Rachel R. Huxley, Arthur (Bill) W. Musk, Peter J. Franklin, Benjamin J. Mullins
Summary: Despite their increasing popularity, the usage and perceptions of e-cigarettes among Australian adults have not been extensively studied. This research surveyed 2217 adult Australians and found that a significant proportion of respondents were current e-cigarette users, with a majority also being smokers. Most respondents purchased their e-cigarette devices and liquids within Australia, even though nicotine liquids are illegal without a prescription. Furthermore, while some users believed that e-cigarettes were completely safe, there was overall uncertainty and ambivalence towards their safety and efficacy in smoking cessation. This study highlights the common use of e-cigarettes in Australia and the need for unbiased research on their safety and effectiveness to be disseminated.
Article
Pediatrics
Paul G. G. Stevenson, Matthew N. N. Cooper, Wesley Billingham, Nicholas de Klerk, Shannon J. J. Simpson, Tobias Strunk, Hannah C. C. Moore
Summary: This study used population-based linked data in Western Australia to describe the longer-term respiratory infectious morbidity of infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The study found an ongoing burden of acute respiratory infections in children who graduate from the NICU, especially those born extremely preterm, that persists into early childhood.
Article
Respiratory System
Vanessa M. Mcdonald, Gregory Archbold, Tesfalidet Beyene, Bronwyn K. Brew, Peter Franklin, Peter G. Gibson, John Harrington, Philip M. Hansbro, Fay H. Johnston, Paul D. Robinson, Michael Sutherland, Deborah Yates, Graeme R. Zosky, Michael J. Abramson
Summary: Landscape fires are becoming more frequent and severe worldwide, causing a significant health and socioeconomic burden, especially in Australia. People with asthma are especially susceptible to the effects of landscape fire smoke (LFS) exposure. This position statement highlights the impact of LFS on individuals with asthma, particularly vulnerable groups, and provides guidance on asthma management, smoke mitigation strategies, and access to air quality information during periods of LFS.
Article
Immunology
Huong Le, Nicholas de Klerk, Christopher C. Blyth, Heather Gidding, Parveen Fathima, Hannah C. Moore
Summary: This study assesses the causal impact of seasonal influenza vaccine on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations in children using an instrumental variable strategy. The results show that influenza vaccine reduces the risk of RSV hospitalizations, especially in children under 2 years old.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib, Julia Collins, Pierina Otness, James Goode, Stacey Tomley, Peter Franklin, Justine Ross
Summary: Asbestos is still widely present in the Australian built environment, with approximately 50% of the 13 million tonnes of asbestos products installed in earlier decades remaining in place. Even though actual asbestos exposure levels are mostly very low, the potential for exposure to asbestos fibres remains high due to the extensive past use of asbestos and the ageing of these products. The sources of exposure include disturbance of in situ asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) during renovations or disaster events. However, our understanding of the risk of long-term low-level or background asbestos exposure is poor. This article highlights the need for low-level asbestos monitoring and further research to evaluate the adequacy of current exposure monitoring approaches. It also emphasizes the importance of proactive asbestos removal to reduce the risk of ongoing asbestos contamination and exposure, while improving building sustainability and resource efficiency.